Page 87 of On The Rocks

“You’re anologist,” she announced. “Everybody knowsologistsare the best at everything, and they’re smart like Stephen Hawking. Anthropologist, cardiologist, neurologist,” she jerked her chin at me,“archeologist.”

I bit back a laugh. “You may be onto something there. Professor Hawking was a cosmologist.”

“See!” she exclaimed smugly. “Ologists are the smartest and best, and now I’ve got one, too.”

I reached out and clasped her fingers with mine. “Yes, Mam. You have.”

Callum tipped his head back, muttering, “God fucking help me.”

Donovan took a seat, busting out a laugh.

Maureen dropped my hand and patted it affectionately before reaching across the table to put the food on our plates. “Get it while it’s hot, loves. You know how soggy boxty can get. Then we can get down to trying Maeve’s brew. What time are your friends getting here, boys?”

“About six, Ma,” Callum responded, swiping butter across his soda bread.

“Well, I’ve got picky bits made,” she told him fondly. “I’ll set them out later, then I’ll be off home.”

“Thanks, Ma,” Callum told her.

“Well, people can’t come into our home and not get fed,can they?”

I buttered some soda bread before cutting into my boxty while popping a piece in my mouth and smiling at the banter flying around the table.

I’d never had this before. Well, I did, but it was a long time ago.

My mam and da used to be like this. She’d scold him for being late, and he’d kiss her into submission while I gazed at them with shining eyes from my seat at our kitchen table. The memories and the emotions they evoked were etched into my heart so deeply they were a part of me.

Then I lost it, and I lost everything.

When I told Callum that I’d had everything that meant nothing, I was trying to explain that Patrick gave me everything I ever needed or wanted, but it meant nothing without this.

Love, trust, connection, family. They were the important things, not jewels, clothes, and cars. I’d give up every penny in my bank to keep this, and I’d walk around in rags if it meant I walked alongside people who loved me and had my back.

A big, calloused, warm hand covered mine, and emotion hit the back of my throat. My eyes lifted to meet my husband’s and held true and steady.

Callum’s, however, dipped down to my boobs, and his mouth twisted into a knowing smirk while he shot me a cheeky wink.

I choked back a laugh, thinking how Maureen had it spot on?—

My husband really was an eejit.

I’d been working backin the distillery for about an hour after lunch when Aislynn called me. We spoke most days, so her call wasn’t entirely unexpected, but the subject matter was unwelcome. The second I clicked my cell phone onto the speaker, she shrieked, “What are you wearing for the opening?”

An old, familiar heaviness hit the pit of my belly. “I was going to dig something out of the back of my closet. I have a nice skirt and blouse combo I wore for an important conference once, where I took the lead on a series of lectures about the roles of women in the?—”

“Maeve,” Aislynn interrupted. “No.”

“I’m not really a dress-up kind of girl,” I murmured absentmindedly, leaning over my desk to check something off my ‘list of things to do.’ “Callum wants us all in green, so it’ll be fine. It’s a lovely skirt and blouse. Even my best friend Emily said so.”

“You’re the owner of the Lucky Shamrock’s wife, Maeve,” Ash reminded me gently. “I’m not saying you have to turn into a bimbo, but it’ll be expected that you dress up and look nice. Not just by Callum but the town, too.”

I waved nonchalantly, even though Ash couldn’t see me. “I’m too busy to shop and I’ll slick my hair back the same as my wedding.”

“No, Maeve,” she responded. “Go see Tristan at his salon.”

A nervous lump formed in my throat, and my heart sank. “I can’t keep bothering Tris. He already helped me out with my keratin treatment, and the last time he dressed me, my top was too low, and Callum ended up fighting.”

“That wasn’t Tristan’s fault,” she insisted. “He just wants to make you feel good about yourself, and anyway, the Shamrock opening won’t be full of dickwads who think it’s okay to get handsy with you.”

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